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DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars three Olympians sent their team into the Olympic break on a high note Saturday night. Finlands Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves to lead Dallas over the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Saturday night. He received plenty of help from the Stars defence and got goals from Ray Whitney and Russias Valeri Nichushkin. Canadas Jamie Benn assisted on Whitneys goal. The victory moved Dallas into the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference for the first time this season. "Weve come from a long way," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "Youve got to give the guys credit for digging in. "I thought if we got within three or four points at the break, we could be a serious contender. Weve exceeded that." The Stars and Coyotes have identical 27-21-10 records for 64 points, but Dallas holds a tiebreaker over Phoenix, which fell to ninth. Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said his teams position at the break is "probably about where we should be. I think were better than that, but thats where we are." "Im not worrying about that too much yet," Lehtonen said of Dallas position in the standings. "Its good that were moving to the right direction. We just have to keep going." He was more impressed by defeating Phoenix twice in five days to make up four points on the Coyotes. "They were huge games both times. I really like it when we play well as a team." Dallas limited Phoenix to 27 shots, 13 in the third period. Lehtonen shut them out until Radim Vrbata scored on a power play with 15 seconds remaining. The Coyotes had six skaters to the Stars four because Tippett had pulled goalie Mike Smith, who had 31 saves. "Again (Lehtonen) was rock solid," said Ruff, an assistant coach for Canadas Olympic team. "He came up with some big saves. One when we were killing a penalty he went down low and made a glove save. He made a big stop on their breakaway when they were short-handed. "The only thing I would like to have seen was for him to get the shutout." "We couldnt generate too much offensively," Vrbata said. "But I think (Smiths) playing the way we know he can play. Hopefully, hes going to stay like that and we can do a little better for him." Whitney scored just 2:10 into the game. Nichushkin scored at 19:26 of the second period, deflecting in a shot by Trevor Daley. Dallas took the early lead when Whitney carried the puck into the Phoenix zone along the left side, skated into the slot and sent a wrist shot past Smith into the upper right corner of the net. "It was kind of not much happening in the first period until we decided we didnt want to back check on a play and give them the first goal," Tippett said. "That was something we talked about as a group, if we get behind its going to be much tougher on us." The Stars ended the first period a man up and put three shots on Smith for a 7-4 edge in shots. One of Dallas shots was short-handed, as the Stars made it difficult for the Coyotes to get out of their end. Midway through the second period, Dallas had two good scoring chances, but Smith gloved a high drive by Sergei Gonchar and stopped a tip-in attempt by Benn in front of the goal. Nichushkin deflected Daleys slap shot from the blue line for the rookies 13th goal with 34 seconds left in the second period for a 1-0 lead. The goal was reviewed to see whether Nichushkins deflection was on a high stick. NOTES: Whitney has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last seven games against Phoenix. ... Coyotes D Derek Morris (upper-body injury) was inactive. He was hurt during Phoenixs victory over Chicago Friday. C Martin Hanzal, who missed that game because of illness, returned against Dallas. ... The Stars have not allowed more than 28 shots in any of their last 11 games. ... Vrbata has scored three goals in the last four games. ... Saturdays game was delayed briefly in the second period when linesman Ryan Galloway was upended in a collision with Whitney along the boards. Galloway stayed in the game. ... The public address announcer saluted the five Coyotes and three Stars who will be competing in the Olympics. Smith, a former Stars goalie, received almost as strong an ovation as the Dallas players. Ron Jaworski Womens Jersey .com) - Matt Duchene picked up the deciding goal early in the third period and added an assist, as Colorado escaped with a 4-3 victory over Dallas at Pepsi Center. Brian Dawkins Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Nick-Foles-Jersey/ . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. Nick Foles Youth Jersey . - Robert Griffin III has a sprained throwing shoulder that limited him in practice Wednesday as the Washington Redskins prepared for their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. Herman Edwards Jersey . The 26-year-old slider from Calgary posted a time of 50.464 seconds, 0.573 seconds back of leader Natalie Geisenberger. The German led the overall World Cup womens standings this season and continued her dominance by putting down a track record time of 49.PHILADELPHIA - Canadian teenage forward Cyle Larin tops an intriguing crop of soccer talent available in an MLS SuperDraft that should see Canadian teams, with five of the first 13 picks, figure prominently.Orlando City SC picks first Thursday at the Philadelphia Convention Center, followed by fellow expansion team New York City FC, Montreal, San Jose and Portland.With three picks apiece in the first round, Toronto FC (six, nine and 11) and Sporting Kansas City (10, 12 and 20) will be busy whether they decide to trade selections or not.The Vancouver Whitecaps go 13th.The ball is now in Orlandos court. They have done their homework on Larin and seem more than comfortable with the young forward. Its a question of can anyone persuade them to part with the pick.Its a big day. We have the No. 1 spot, said Orlando assistant coach Mark Watson, who left more than a few marks as a hard-nosed Canadian international defender in his day. You hope to get a player of real quality.Having said that, he acknowledged its harder these days for any young player to make an immediate impact in the league.Midfielder Kyle Bekker is the highest Canadian pick in the MLS draft to date, going third overall in 2013 to Toronto. Like Larin, Bekker played for the Sigma FC academy in suburban Mississauga growing up.The draft atmosphere ramped up considerably Wednesday as coaches and GMs arrived from the MLS Combine in Florida. Coaches like Seattles Sigi Schmid and Chicagos Frank Yallop wandered through a downtown hotel lobby filled with delegates to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention.While UConns Larin and University of Washington midfielder Cristian Roldan have been singled out by many as the cream of the 2015 draft class, there are plenty of interesting prospects with players moving up and down as a result of the Combine. UCLA midfielder Leo Stolz, winner of the Missouri Athletic Clubs Hermann Award as the top NCAA mens player, will be an interesting risk-reward pick given the German-born Stolz is reportedly looking to start his career in Europe.There are a lot of players out there who can play in this league if you give them a chance, said Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko.I think theres a lot of talented players, added Toronto coach Greg Vanney. Im not sure if in this draft you have the one that really jumps out and says, Im going to change a team in a year or in this current season.With all three Canadian teams looking to field USL Pro teams this season, there are more minutes to go around for drafted players.Underclassmen Larin, Roldan, University of Central Florida forward Romario Williams, Syracuse University goalkeeper Alex Bono and North Carolina State defender Conor Donovan are especially attractive because their Generation Adidas contracts do not count against the salary cap.Notre Dame midfielder Nick Besler, younger brother to Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler, is one of 12 college seniors to have signed MLS contracts ahead of the draft. Those deals offer one year of salary cap relief.Coaches and GMs can be circumspect ahead of the draft, not wanting to tip their hand.But count Canadian national team coach Benito Floro as a believer in Larin, having already given the teenage striker three caps.The 19-year-old from Brampton, Ont., is fast, versatile, good on the ball and has a good head on his shoulders. He has some interesting qualities and a lot of desire to continue to grow as a player and serve the Canadian mens national team, Floro said in Florida at the Canadian team camp. He could be a good forward and striker.Larin will be busy on draft day. Hes in Jamaica with the Canadian under-20 team, which is slated to play El Salvador on Thursday at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.dddddddddddd feel excited, he said in Jamaica. Im just ready to start my career in Major League Soccer and hopefully one of the teams will pick me and I can start my career in a good environment and I cant wait to just start playing.There is plenty of defensive help available with Bezbatchenko, for one, a believer that history has shown young defenders can make their mark quickly in the league.Canadian Skylar Thomas (Syracuse) joins Donovan, U.S. under-23 international Ramon Martin Del Campo, Tim Parker (St. Johns), Boyd Okwuonu (North Carolina), Oumar Ballo (UMBC), Aaron Simmons (California) and six-foot-seven Swede Axel Sjoberg (Marquette) as worthwhile options at centre back.And there is some fullback talent available too with Canadian Jordan Murrell (Syracuse), Otis Earle (UC-Riverside) and Andy Thoma (Washington) among others.Montreal has moved to bolster its defence with the additions of Bakary Soumare and Victor Cabrera after the departure of Matteo Ferrari and Heath Pearce. But Frank Klopas, head coach and director of player personnel, has shown a penchant in the past for drafting defenders and could do so again. A forward is also an Impact option.With just veteran Steven Caldwell and sophomore Nick Hagglund left at centre back, Toronto needs depth on the backline. Help at right back is needed, although coach Greg Vanney seems content with Ashtone Morgans ability behind Justin Morrow at left back.And while TFC has options in midfield, it has yet to sort out its best alignment.Bono, with his Generation Adidas deal, is also an attractive option in goal for a Toronto team looking to increase competition at every position.Vancouver, with a well-balanced squad, is looking for depth. Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi believes the 13th pick can net a player who can help right away, maybe not as a starter but certainly in the roster of 18. Other midfielders to watch include Fatai Alashe (Michigan State) and Dan Metzger (Maryland) with Jaineil Hoilett, younger brother of QPR attacking midfielder Junior Hoilett, a Canadian option.Forward talent includes Larin, Williams, Khiry Shelton (Oregon State), Andy Craven (North Carolina), Miguel Aguilar (San Francisco), Dzenan Catic (Davenport) and exciting Jamaican Akeil Barrett (Tulsa). Theres also Sagi Lev-Ari (Cal State Northridge) who has served time in the Israeli military. With Gilberto, Luke Moore, Robbie Findley, Jordan Hamilton, Bright Dike and possibly Jozy Altidore, Toronto already has an array of forwards.Weve got a good forward crew, Vanney said. So I think we need guys who can set them up and get them into good position to score goals.That search continues outside the draft with Juventus attacking midfield/forward Sebastian Giovinco and Real Betis defender Damien Perquis identified as targets.Toronto believes it is getting the equivalent of a top-five pick in Michigan State midfielder Jay Chapman, who is expected to get homegrown player status soon for TFC.Toronto has eight picks in the four-round draft which will see Rounds 3 and 4 take place Jan. 20 by phone. Vancouver has seven selections and will be looking for some diamonds in the rough with five picks in the lower two rounds.Other than its first-round pick, Montreal has a third- and fourth-round selection.Notes: Orlando City has traded forward Jairo Arrieta to D.C. United for an international roster spot. That gives Orlando 11 such international spots. Arrieta came to Orlando from the Columbus Crew via the expansion draft. ... U.S international midfielder Maurice Edu, who started his MLS career in Toronto, has signed a new deal with the Philadelphia Union.———Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter. ' ' '